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Since rumors beganswirling that the Chicago Cubs were going to actually sign a high number of their hard-to-sign, overslot type picks (i.e., kids who fell further in the draft than they otherwise would have if teams had believed they would sign), things have been relatively quiet on the draft signee front.

The good news is that doesn’t mean the deals aren’t done, or aren’t going to get done.

Prior rumors had the Cubs signing second round first baseman Dan Vogelbach, eleventh round outfielder Shawon Dunston, Jr., fourteenth round pitcher Dillon Maples, and thirty-ninth round pitcher Ricky Jacquez. But, with the lack of any kind of official announcement, should we be worried?

Baseball America’s Jim Callis says we should not. When asked if the reason for silence was simply because overslot signings are often not announced until close to the August 16 deadline, or because the signings aren’t going to happen, Callis said simply: “Door No. 1.” That’s good news, folks.

And, if the purported Twitter accounts of Dunston and Jacquez are to be believed (these are not “confirmed” accounts, mind you), we can throw more gas on the fire.

Jacquez tweeted earlier today that he “hope[s he] can come to an agreement” with the Cubs. Better, Dunston tweeted in response to Jacquez a very cryptic, but very hopeful, “12 days.” Do you need me to reiterate that the signing deadline is in 12 days?

In more concrete good news, the Cubs have signed 15th round catcher, Justin Marra, a high schooler out of Canada. Marra is a member of the Canadian Junior National team, and was viewed by many as a back-up plan to 6th round pick Neftali Rosario. After the Cubs signed Rosario, who was expected to be a tough sign, himself, most lost hope for Marra. But, apparently the Cubs remain almost perversely committed to signing their overslot type picks this year. I’m certainly not complaining.

To be fair, if any given non-first-round pick turns out as good as Dunston was, it was a great pick. Statistically speaking.

And I’m not saying Dunston was all universe.

Toosh

Well put. A lot of people don’t realize how good Shawon Dunston was. The way the last few seasons have gone, I hate to depress Cub fans any more, but if Starlin Castro ends up having a career equal to, or better than Dunston’s, I’d be surprised. Most projections have Castro similar to Edgar Renteria by the time he’s done.

You’re right. 18 seasons. 6000 plus plate appearances. Not much of a career.

EQ

philoe beddoe, you forgot Kevin Tapani Jr. and Kal Daniels Jr.

Michigan Goat

Hey your avatar matches your handle… at least I think that’s Clint but a orangutan would also match

NyN

We would have to trade for Dwight Smith Jr. The Jays took him 53rd overall this year.

http://www.bleachernation.com Brett

That’s actually very funny.

philoe beddoe

yeah,,to be fair…he’s just on my all frustrating to watch team….never walked…always o and 2….always swinging for fences….I believe he was the first overall pick….ahead of Doc Gooden….and full disclosure…I met Shawon a couple of times and he was always “too cool”…where as Greg Maddux was like nice and seemed geniunely happy to have fans….

okay..sorry for the dorky name dropping…I am not that cool…just have had opportunites…

http://www.bleachernation.com Brett

Ha. You’re good, philoe. You’re good.

Toosh

He always busted his ass out of the batter’s box. He was the best middle infielder I ever saw as far as range on pop-ups, he had a cannon for an arm. If the current Cubs had the equivalent of Shawon Dunston at all 8 defensive positions they’d be vastly superior to the collection of stiffs we watch now.

Fishin Phil

All that you saw about Dunston is true…. but much like Castro, he would make a couple of spectacular plays, then take a routine grounder and launch it into the stands. And he did have a “nose to toes” strike zone.

Still liked him though.

philoe beddoe

Speaking of Dunston, why is it that we historically find hitters who are apathetic to walking and working the count…I watched a little bit of the Yankees last night against Matt Thornton..say what you want about their stacked line-up…but all of those guys have a great approach….I saw Granderson and Chavez, two lefties, foul off Thorton’s best pitches, work the count to 3-2, and get hits…..for the 35 years I have watched the Cubs closely it is always the same…doesn’t matter who manager, coach is….it’s maddening

Gary Mathews was one of the best I saw at working the count….

Fishin Phil

I often wonder about that myself. Do we not teach patience at any level in the system? Do we just draft free-swingers and it’s impossible to teach them discipline?

http://www.bleachernation.com Brett

In recent memory, it’s been the latter. The Cubs haven’t been interested in drafting “patient” types because they believe kids learn discipline. In the last couple years, though, it seems like they’ve started looking more and more at kids who innately have discipline.

http://www.bobbyfunzone.com bobbyd

Well since the system (minus Ryno) sure as hell can’t teach it (“it” being patience/discipline/fundamentals), might as well draft kids who have a semblance of “it”.

Then the organization can beat “it” out of them.

http://www.bleachernation.com Brett

Agreed.

Michigan Goat

They have a great hitting coach who teaches plate discipline, we have a man who is about swinging for contact and made a name for himself at a hitter friendly ballpark. It’s no secret that the Rangers got better after he left.

Fishin Phil

But it’s not just Rudy, this has been going on for decades.

Michigan Goat

I do wonder how much Wrigley and especially day games interfere with being disciplined at the plate. I can imagine a player hot, frustrated, sun in eyes that just wants to get through the at bat in 3-6 pitches. Sad but I can understand but I dint condone.

pfk

Without question, everyone in baseball will tell you that the Cubs are at a distinct disadvantage with so many day games. This is not minor by any means.

http://www.bleachernation.com Brett

I’ve come around to this way of thinking.

Michigan Goat

I honestly believe, and it hurts to admit this, that until the Cubs double the amount of home night games we will always have difficulty being strong in September

http://www.bobbyfunzone.com bobbyd

I’m curious, what is the percentage of day/night games that the I-Cubs play compared with the AAAA Cubs?

Cheryl

You rarely see a player on the cubs who has the patience to work a count. Nor do you see many players study how the pitcher pitches to them. You would think that that approach would be basic but it seems that these players think that the only way they can get from the minors to the majors and stay there is if they swing hard and fast. Even a player like Fuku began to fall into that pattern when hed saw how other players played and he probably had the most plate discipline of any of the cubs.

MontelleW

Michigan Goat – I understand and somewhat agree with what you are saying – but the teams we play on those day games would be in the same sun hot and frustrated too, right? Maybe it is, maybe it isnt…but I know from some seasons past (03, 07, 08) we are able to have winning seasons even with the day games – yet we fail to finish the job in the post season – there’s gotta be something else at hand there I would think?

pfk

In no way is it equal for both teams. The Cubs play 3-4 times as many day games at home as other clubs. They have a road trip to San Francisco, play a night game that ends late, take a flight that gets home well after midnight and then have a day game. That is killer. Meanwhile, their opponent, say St. Louis or Milwaukee, had several more hours rest coming from those cities. MLB player’s body clocks are geared for a night game schedule and its hard to adjust. Plus, its no secret that many players like to go out to bars at night to wind down after a night game, then go drinking and have to get up early again for a day game.

Toosh

Yes, both teams are at the same disadvantage, if it is one, during day games. But I believe the fact that the Cubs play so many more day games over the course of a season than any other team AND haven’t won a World Series since night games became the norm cannot be brushed aside as just another excuse.

Toosh

SorryOhNo! on the bench. DeWitt in left.

Cam

Dunston may very well sign , but I don’t think his tweet tells us much. It was in response to Jacquez’ tweet about what he might do. Dunston did, however, seem to leave the door open.

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